Burnham’s tax power shift aims to free England’s mayors from ‘Treasury death grip’

In parallel, Prime Minister Burnham is driving a substantial reform aimed at decentralizing fiscal authority from the Treasury. These proposed measures are designed to liberate England's regional mayors from what has been described as the 'Treasury death grip' by granting them enhanced borrowing powers. Furthermore, mayors will be empowered to retain a greater share of income tax and business rates collected within their regions. The overarching objective of these fiscal reforms is to establish long-term funding certainty for mayoral combined authorities and to facilitate the financing of significant infrastructure and development projects.

Beyond these governmental and fiscal shifts, Prime Minister Burnham is actively engaging with the business community. He has issued a direct appeal to business leaders, urging them to implement work shadowing programs for young individuals. This initiative is particularly focused on offering opportunities to those from disadvantaged backgrounds and is framed as a critical component of a wider strategy to combat the escalating rates of youth unemployment across the nation. The aim is to provide young people with valuable exposure to the professional world and potential career pathways.